Tuen Ng (Dragon Boat Festival)

Some traditional teams use the drum to keep timing on the boat, our team only uses a drummer on race days. We follow the timing of the front stroke paddlers.
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Some admired me, some thought I was crazy, but I joined a dragon boat team this year to learn more about the Chinese culture. There is a lot of folklore connected to Tuen Ng or Dragon Boat Festival. According to legend, poet-patriot Qu Yuan from the Warring states period was accused of being a traitor and jumped into the Miluo river to prove his innocence. The local people were so touched by this patriotic act, they decided to prevent the fish and shrimps from eating Qu Yuan's poor defenseless corpse by organizing dragon boat races and throwing sticky rice dumplings into the river, hoping the beating paddles would drive away the fish, the sticky rice would glue their mouths shut. Zongzi, or zong for short, are glutinous rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves and eaten to celebrate Tuen Ng.

The team received various trophies throughout the season.
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I was recruited on New Years day at a local pub while having a drink with Carrie during her trip to Hong Kong. I joined this expatriot co-ed team thinking it would be good exercise and a great way to meet people outside of the teaching world here. Training began on the water in the middle of January with practice 2-3 times a week. January brought cool temperatures, approximately 50 degrees, and brisk winds. On Wednesdays we trained at 7:30 at night on the water, rain or shine (even with thunder and lightning). We had a women's team and a men's. Each dragon boat holds 18-22 people sitting 2 by 2. The actual races took place throughout the season in many locations around Hong Kong. Our team registered for 5 races (I participated in 4). My enthusiasm varied week to week, at times I was thrilled that I took on this challenge, at times I was feeling like an idiot for taking on this challenge (and huge time commitment). In the end, after six months of training, I must say I am very glad I did it. I met a lot of great people, learned about the dragon boat traditions and our women's team came in 2nd in the biggest race of the season (as well at 1st in the last short race of the season).  Summer is here, Martha's Vineyard representatives are here with me in Hong Kong, and I am heading to New York City for a course on Saturday. There will be a write up soon about the adventures of the MV crew!

...hoping the beating paddles would drive away the fish